Step 7: Coloring Time

Step 8: Troubleshooting/Questions/More Info

If you can't seem to get it to work, it could be one of these things... The battery is dead. Get a new one. The battery came loose. Tape it...

I learn best through tactile teaching methods. Teaching and learning basic circuits, electronics, and electricity from books is good, but why not build a simple circuit from scratch and learn from doing. This is a great way to get hands on and teach/learn the basics of electricity. With this project you can change the path of the electric current to run through different sensors. With this design you can switch between lighting a Blue LED or activating a Buzzer. You also have the choice of using a Light Dependent Resistor with the LED or Buzzer. You can be creative and design your own circuit and add different sensors (other LEDs...).

My buzzer will not sound when I switch the circuit through the light dependent resistor (LDR). I can barely see my light dimmed through the LDR. I have tried connecting extra batteries in series. Obviously shining a light on the LDR brightens the LED, but nothing seems to help the buzzer. Any ideas?

I tried this and I am having a problem getting anything to work. I went to staples to buy paper clips and the brads and I am wondering if these paper clips have some type of coating prohibiting the flow. Has anyone run into this problem?

i'm well thanks,I am not sure if understand your question but with 3 volts a white or blue LED will work but only one. The buzzer will work but not at the same time as the LED and any LDR can be used as you wish. Feel free to ask again if you have questions.Matt

I love this project and admire the simplicity of how taking something as complex as electronic circuitry and simplifying it so that anyone can understand it. I remember having something like this in my 3rd grade science class and was absolutely loved it.

Hi. Nice instructable. I really will try something like this.. But i want to ask you something. If i want to use more Leds to make a heart or something like that and i need more volt (a mayor number of bateries or a bigger batery) how do i know the limits of volts to be safe? i mean if i put a AA batery or 2 can it be safe to be manipulate the Paperclips or Metal Brads with hands?

Thanks and sorry but i dont know much about electricity and circuits but i want to make some cardboards love cards with your idea.

Usually it will be safe unless you're working with high voltages (at which point paperclips and batteries shouldn't be involved)

an AA battery is 1,5 volts so he actually used 2 of those for this project. You can go higher without problems. (although I'd say don't go over 4 as it's not needed for any project for testing like this)

Instead, you can also hook up the LEDs next to eachother (parallel) in stead of behind eachother (series) meaning that you won't need more voltage then with only 1 LED